C, since the reader can focus on the more important details of the text, rather then the fluff in the beginning
It means c) rare
scarce means rare and copious is its synonym
vacant and occupied are antonyms of scarce meaning plentiful
hence, the double colon separating the pairs of words
The rhetorical question is B.
"I grass green?" has a very obvious answer and is a very unnecessary question.
another example: Sojourner Truth; Ain't I a woman
